I don’t think there is a chance.

Even the 3 is refreshed every 5 year in the historical data, many models deserve a refresh. It is also the first so called gen7 platform, before CX-30, MX-30, CX-50, 60, 80 and 90. Yes, both inline 6 engines and PHEV are still considered to be the gen7.

Mazda 2, CX-3, CX-5 and 6 are still in old platform. Some of them don’t even get updated to the new entertainment system. In Euro, they end up simply rebadge the Yaris as Mazda 2 hybrid.

While budget cars need to be cheap they didn’t full model change for almost 10 years, on the other end the 6 is the dying sedan and wagon. It is a good car but this didn’t reflect onto the sales figure.

To keep their mainstream sales while moving towards luxury, CX-5 must be refreshed in gen 7 platform.

In short the factors are:

• gen8 platform is needed to do full model change, if you want things to be different (Well, Honda did a “full model change” on CRV for almost the same stuffs)
• Mazda has become a SUV company. This is rational move.

If you like the design of gen4 Mazda 3 just buy it. Personal opinion that the design of gen4 is timeless.

I am in Australia and Mazda is putting ads on YouTube consistently. Make sure you watch car related videos, have no ad blocker (essentially on phones) and without YouTube Premium.